Ards 2nds 12 v Ballymena 3rds 10
Ards 2nds made the journey to Eaton Park last Saturday to play Ballymena 3rds on a very changeable and autumnal day. After a disappointing result last time out, coach Simon Hamilton had the luxury of choosing a strong side, with the usual blend of youth and experience. Experienced players such as Gareth McBurney, Adam Coulter, Stevie Cullen and Paul Cox alongside the upcoming players such as Caleb Lowe, Michael Lyttle, Ethan Barrett and Josh Baxter. Ashley Peden and Ryan Copeland providing impact from the bench this week.

Ards kicked off, and a Ballymena error allowed Ards good field position in the Ballymena 22, with McBurney, Gray and Barrett making inroads with ball in hand. The ball was then moved went wide, with Coulter and Ben Thompson involved, a quick ruck saw McBurney crash over after efficient clear out work from the Ards forwards. Converted by Paul Cox. 7-0.

Ards continued their good start with the boot of outhalf Cox keeping Ards playing in the Ballymena half. Good lineout work from Josh Browne and Caleb Lowe kept Ballymena honest at the lineout. Clean lineout ball following some Ballymena indiscipline saw direct running from Gray, Kisby, Horner and McBurney that tested the opposition with only robust Ballymena defence and Ards mistakes at vital moments allowing Ballymena to clear their lines. Repeated penalties by Ards saw Ballymena make yards upfield and from a well constructed maul Ballymena rumbled over for an unconverted score. 7-5.

The rest of the half saw Ballymena and Ards exchange a number of penalties due to the ever changing weather conditions. When Ards ventured into the opposition 22, especially out wide, the back three of Thompson, Coulter and Baxter become more prevalent in the game. Ards went through a number of phases through strong carries from McBurney, Cullen, Lowe, Copeland and James Kelly making vital yards with a mixture of indecision at vital moments and defence pressure preventing a score.

HT 7-5.

An error from the Ballymena kick off gave Ballymena an opportunity to build an attacking platform, which was well extinguished by the Ards backline forcing the opposition into errors on multiple occasions. With the weather closing in, handling errors and lineout steals were more common, with Michael Lytle and Caleb Lowe making themselves a nuisance at the Ballymena lineout and multiple scrums being called. Ballymena used the wind on their back with their kicks, forcing Ards into a goal line drop out. From the drop out, a defensive misread out wide saw the Ballymena winger score, unconverted. 7-10.

Ards won the defensive battle from the kick off, with the Ards back row and the Ards backline remaining resolute and solid. More direct running from Horner, McBurney, Kisby and Ryan Copeland so strong yards, but weather conditions made handling tricky and the referee favouring the Ballymena’s breakdown work. Ben Thompson and Paul Cox were directing the team well and with effective breakdown work, Ards camped themselves in the Ballymena 22. Great lineout work from Lyttle, Lowe and Gray from Neil Horner’s throws kept the pressure on, with successive mauls from successive penalties. Great lead up work from the Ards forwards allowed McBurney to score his 2nd try from a pick and go. Unconverted. 10-12.

From the resulting restart, Ards yet again found themselves in the opposition 22, putting themselves there with good execution of forward running and outhalf Cox releasing centres Kisby and Barrett with direct running lines. Only a knock on from Ards and Ballymena defensive effort preventing a further Ards scores. Ballymena tried in vain to create a score in the final moments of the game, with the Ards defensive line holding strong to force an error to kick the ball out for the game.

FT Ballymena 3s. 10. Ards 2s. 12

A hard fought win for the 2nds against a young and determined Ballymena side, Ards stayed in the fight and were determined throughout to seal an away win.

Next up for the 2s is an away fixture at Larne this Saturday.